media release - Mingei International Museum

MEDIA RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT
JESSICA HANSON YORK
(619) 704-7510
[email protected]
MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM TO OPEN
TWO NEW GALLERIES FOR PERMANENT COLLECTION DISPLAY
– FEATURING BEADS, DOLLS AND TOYS
San Diego CA - April 21, 2014
Two new galleries at Mingei International Museum recently opened, allowing for the display of two
rich aspects of the Museum’s permanent collection: dolls and toys and beads. Local architect Jennifer Luce has designed the intimate, elegant spaces to showcase the stunning detail of beads and
adornment and the playful wonder of a child’s world.
Like many museums, Mingei has limited square footage in which to display the diverse and remarkable objects in its permanent collection. Most of the Museum’s gallery space is dedicated to rotating, temporary exhibitions. These two new galleries considerably enhance the Museum’s ability to
exhibit permanent collection objects.
THE BEAD GALLERY
The Bead Gallery will showcase changing exhibitions of the Museum’s important collection of beads
and beaded objects. The exhibition inaugurating the permanent Bead Gallery offers a taste of the
breadth and depth of the collection, which represents nearly all bead producing areas and cultures
of the world and spans ancient times to the present day. Objects in the bead collection range from
pre-Columbian to contemporary pieces, and include polymer, glass, clay and many other materials.
Mingei International’s already worthy bead collection was greatly enhanced by the extraordinary
gift in March 2011 of the entire collection of The Bead Museum of Glendale, Arizona.
“Mingei now holds the largest public bead collection in the world and we are glad to be able to
finally share these important and revealing objects with our visitors,” said Museum director Rob
Sidner. “With the opening of this new gallery we gratefully acknowledge the legacy of The Bead
Museum and the vision of its founder, Gabrielle Liese.”
The Bead Gallery – resembling a pristine jewelry box – will occasionally rotate its display of beads
and beaded objects. Visitors will be able to further explore the collection with an iPad, book and
comprehensive bead timeline.
THE DOLL AND TOY GALLERY
Mingei’s first-ever exhibition was titled FOLK TOYS OF THE WORLD, and the Museum’s collection of
dolls, banks, cars, pull-toys and animal figures has only grown since then.
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Walking into the new Doll and Toy Gallery will suggest a stroll past a series of enchanting shop
windows. Visitors will be surrounded by tall glass cases filled with playthings of past and present.
The imaginative and colorful toys on display will represent a wide range of cultures from around
the globe.
A special focus of this new gallery is A Palace for Wednesday, long a beloved stopping place in
the Museum for children and adults. Created by artist Alice Hudson out of “twigs, leaves, cloth and
magic,“ A Palace for Wednesday is now displayed in new, contemporary casework.
The galleries were designed by architect Jennifer Luce, luce et studio, San Diego, with special assistance from Steven Hoard. Fabrication of casework and sheathing was by Clyde Turner, CTT Furniture, Inc., San Diego and installation by Parker Piner, West Coast General Building Contractors, Inc.,
San Diego. The galleries expansion project was funded by an anonymous challenge match provider
and 144 Museum donors.
ABOUT MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM
Located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, Mingei International Museum collects, preserves and exhibits
folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world. A non-profit institution funded
by admission, individuals, and community support, the Museum offers inspiring exhibitions and
diverse educational programs to more than 100,000 visitors a year.
www.mingei.org
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